Ambassador to the US Qin Gang would be the new foreign minister to replace Wang Yi. Critics see him as too closely aligned with Xi and unable to forge strong diplomatic relations. More tensions with Washington are expected. Beijing’s attention is now focused on neighboring countries, Belt and Road partners, and Europe. The invasion of Taiwan can wait.
Beijing () – The ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, will probably be China’s next foreign minister, an appointment that should take place in the spring. Xi Jinping has apparently chosen another “loyalist” for his government team, having placed all of his trusted allies in the Politburo Standing Committee, the center of Chinese political power.
More than a pragmatic relationship builder, Qin is considered a “wolf warrior.” He belongs to the new generation of Chinese diplomats, more aggressive in conveying the supreme leader’s message abroad and protecting the national interest. Example: the recent image of the Chinese consul in Manchester, Zheng Xiyuan, when he participates in the beating of a Hong Kong protester in front of the diplomatic headquarters.
According to several observers, Qin’s appointment does not herald an improvement in relations with the US. He is accused – even in China – of having gone too far in defending Xi’s line, putting at risk the possibility of establishing a solid connection. with the upper echelons of American politics, something that his predecessor in Washington, Cui Tiankai, had achieved.
With the imminent departure from the scene of State Councilor Yang Jiechi, currently China’s top diplomatic official, to be replaced by current Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the apex of Chinese diplomacy will lack a true expert on American politics. :Qin is not.
Analysts point out that the series of high-level meetings Xi has had in recent days says a lot about what the country’s immediate foreign policy goals are. The Chinese president first received the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong, pointing out the desire to improve relations with neighboring countries, marred by territorial disputes.
The meetings with the Pakistani prime minister and the president of Tanzania would instead reflect the intention to strengthen ties with developing countries, partners of the Belt and Road Initiative. Finally, today’s personal interview with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been an opportunity to try to overcome the growing tensions with Europe.
The hottest topic remains reunification with Taiwan. The election of his collaborators at the pinnacle of power, especially Li Qiang as the new prime minister, does not rule out the possibility that Xi shelve the plans for complicated war adventures against Taipei: the priority is the country’s economic recovery and geopolitical instability is not compatible with it.
